Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-09-14
RATIFIED.
The Cascade County Bill Approved
by the People of Great Falls
i'm Mass Meeting.

hold a mass meeting at the Park hn.el.
The purpose of tho meeting was tu make
known the public satisfaction at the sue,
cess of the Cascade county bill and to
tender thanks to those who had aided the
people in this campaign for popular rights.
The assemblage was thoroughly represen-
tative. There were present in large num-
ber, merchants, manufacturers, profes-
sional men and horny handed sons of toll,
who had come to town after an honest
days work on the farm or in the mine.
San River was worthily represented by
Robert Vaughn and others; the newly an
naked district of Chestnut creek, by
James Perkins, and so on each part of the
county being impersonated, so to speak,
by worthy men, who collectively typified
the unity of the young county, who will
soon take her place among the bodies
polite of Montana, arrayed in all the
lovliness of youth.
The meeting was called to order by Mr..
Paris Gibson, who named Hon. Sam. Ell.
Nichols for chairman. The nomination
was pass by reclamation. On taking the
chair, Mr.. Nichols said:
Allow me to preface the general busi-
ness of the meeting with some remarks
regarding what might be called our stew
ardship. When | went with Mr. Phelps
to Helena as volunteer and as private
AnJ, n,nI f1rrhf 4
found that our friends there had done
nobly. [Applause.] In the council, Mr.
Collins had carried the first line of de-
fences and had for the moment spread
disrnay in the enemy's ranks. But the
opposition had returned TO the assault, and
making what | deem improper use OF the
Helena Board of Trade, had organized
stubborn opposition. They went from
house to house, begging for signatures to
remonstrance, but l feel proud that
there were ut least two merchants, Ben
Harris and II. NJ. parchen, who refused
to sign any such document or be in any
way a party to Withheld the rights of
the people, clearly and peacably ex
pressed. fApplausel Against this for
midable opposition in which commercial,
political and personal influence We're
brought to bear, with telling effect, Mr..
Relfe, Mr.. Taylor, Mr.. Holcomb and
Judge Douglass were doing all that men
could dol Applause Mr. Roife had made a
telling speech in the board of trade, and
with his associates had left nothing un-
done to make known the justice of our
demand in the press and to the legislature.
/ made known the situation by telegraph
to ST. Paul. ! stated that the false report
was being used with powerful effect that
Col. Broadwater, as you know, who is a
large property owner here, did not want
the new county. Col. Broadwater, the
Little Giant" as he has been aptly called
in this fight, responded by calling on in
fiuential friends throughout the terri
tory, to rally to Helena, where he return
ed promptly himself. fApplausel.
The trade turned at once In our favor.
Collins, Taylor and Gorham held confer
enees at our headquarters and the Mea-
CHER preventative, whose position had
been doubtful, wheeled into line, differ
enees were adjusted and we presented a
solid front to the legislature, demanding
the county, the whole county and nothing
but the county. [Applausel.
| shall not tire you with explanations
as to some changes which were made in
the draft of the bill. But shall say a
word as to the officers. | know that some
would have liked the excitement of a
special election-that they would have
preferred to make their choice by vote,
even if they voted for the same
officers as had been named in the bill.
We learned at Helena on the authority OF
Messrs. Chumasero, Toole, Cullen and
other prominent lawyers, that the officers
should be named in the bill to avoid legal
complications; that such had been the
practice in regard to other new counties.
Our object above all was to obtain the
county aud to be secure from any legal
quibbles which our opponents might
raise Accordingly We asked Mr.. Collins
to name the officers. He was unwilling
to assume that responsibility, but finally
decided to name the officers who were
mentioned in the last bill, making as re-
CARDS the commissioners certain conces-
sion to concilate the Meagher and Lewis
and Clarke districts. Mr.. Steel had been
named as sheriff and rather than run
any risks We would have retained his
name, but as he had signed remons-
trance against the bill, We deemed it
proper that as the bill was to be amended
at all, that his Name sHouiu ue iepiasSu
by that of Mr. Downing. competent,
worthy man, vel. qualified for the posi-
ton. [Applausel The rest you know.
Thanks to the friendly aid Of representa-
tives Brown and Anderson, this popular
movement which MIR. Paris Gibson had
initiated, not as vice -presidet of the town
site company or TO serve corporate ends,
but as the founder of the city and the
friend of the people, this popular move
ment, say. triumphed and Cascade coun-
tv, is henceforth assured the priceless
heritage of local government. Zap
plausel
Mr.. O'Dwyer will now read resolutions
for your consideration.
CHEERS FOR THE GOVERNOR.
Mr.. Nichols then announced that the
following telegram had been received by
the TRIBuNE from Helena.
aThe Cascade county bill was signed by
Governor Leslie this morning.
IT. 3. COLLINS.
The reading Of the telegram was receiv-
ed with applause and cheers for Governor
T ac3;n